Machine for dividing plastic material



Feb. 12, 1935. R R PEELE 1,990,500

MACHINE FOR DIVIDING PLASTIC MATERIAL Original Filed May 16, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 1NV.ENTOR if 4%77207253. feei TTORNEYS.

Feb. 12, 1935. R R, E E

MACHINE FOR DIVIDING PLASTIC MATERIAL Original Filed May 16, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I 2%7724710??? Feed 6' K5 Y's white lead, soft soap,putty,

Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES FATE? QFFEE MACHINE FOR DIVIDIN GPLASTIC MATERIAL Raymond B. Peele, Saginamlliich.

Substitute for application Serial 16, 1927. This application DecemberNo. 191,793, May 16, 1929,

This invention relates to machines for continuously forming,substantially equal loaves or other portions from a mass of cohesive orgummy material such as molten glass, pulp, pottery clay, salves,semi-solid greases, pastes, lard, sausage, cheese, butter, soft candy,dough, and the like. The particular embodiment of the inventionhereinafter described is primarily designed for the treatment of breaddough.

This application is a re-filing of my previous application, SerialNumber 191,793, filed May 16, 1927.

The object of the invention is primarily to provide a means for quicklyand easily regulating the size of the loaves or batches of materialdelivered by the machine, and to provide for independent regulation ofthe rate of such delivery.

This and various other objects the invention attains by the constructionhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of the improved machine in side elevation and partialsection.

Figure 2 is an elevational view ofthe other side of said machine, partlybroken away.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the machine on the line 33 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section on line 44 of Figure 1, showing two trainsof drive gearing, one being partially hidden by the other.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken upon Le line 55 of Figure 1,showing a flour sprinlder employed in the construction.

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing aconveyor system for removing the severed leaves or portions.

Figure 7 a cross sectional view of the feed chamber of the machine online 7-7 of Figure 1 showing a cutter head for severing extrudedportions of the dough,and showing one such portion almost fully extrudedand about to be severed.

Figiu'e 8 is a similar section showing the aforesaid portion partiallysevered and showing the succeeding portion beginning to extrude.

Figure 9 is a similar section in which the first extruded portion hasbeen completely severed and extrusion of the subsequent portion hasfurther progressed.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view through a feed chamber and cut-ofimechanism of modified construction.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of a fluther modified cut-offmechanism.

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the same modification.

Figure 13 is a developed view of that portion Primary parts of machine"Describing first the primary elements of the disclosed machine, '1designates a cylindrical chamber through which bread dough or the likeis adapted to be advanced to a dividing means. Said chamber preferablyextends horizontally and has a supply hopper 2 upwardly opening from oneend thereof, its other end being formed with a downwardly opening outlet3. Suitable provision is made within the chamber 1 vancing the materialfrom said hopper tosaid outlet, a spiral conveyor member 4-. beingprovided for this purpose in the illustrated construction. When requiredby the nature of the material, some means such as the two verticallydisposed spiral conveyor members 5 may also be arranged within saidhopper to insure a constant feed of material into the chamber 1.Suitably associated with the outlet 3 isa driven cutter for periodicallycutting the extruded portions of dough (or thelike) free from the massof material in the chamber. In'that form of the invention shown inFigures 1-9 inclusive, this cutter takes the form of a rotative head 6within the chamber 1, closing the outlet end thereof, and having atapered annular flange 7 integrally projecting above the outlet 3 andformed with a suitable number of circumferentially spaced apertures 8for successively registering with said outlet as the head rotates. Therate of advance of material by the conveyor element 4 and the rate ofactuation of the cutter head 6 jointly control the size of the loaves orother severed portions and also the rate of delivery thereof. Saidportions are deposited on a horizontally travelling endless conveyormember 9 from which they may be delivered to a second conveyor member 10leading to any desired location.

Frame of machine The aforementioned primary elements and the drivemechanism for the same are mounted upon a frame which may be variouslyformed. As illustrated, the cylindrical feed chamber 1 integrallysurmounts a vertical web 11, and the ends of the frame are integrallyformed with support-.

mg base portions 12 and 13, and a gear casing 14 is mounted upon asuitable end wall 15 of said frame.

for adh Drive mechanism for spiral conveyor elements shafts 20 and 21,each of said pulleyscomprising a pair of coned members 23. A pair oflevers 24 pivoted between their ends, one at each side of the members23, are pivotally connected to the latter members and are actuable inunison to move the elements 23 of the lower pulley toward each otherwhile increasing the spaced relation of the upper pair of said elements,or vice versa, thus varying the drive ratio between said pulleys. Asillustrated, the adjusting means for the levers 24 comprises a shaft 25carrying an actuating hand wheel 26 and having right and left handthreaded portions, engaging nuts'27 pivotally carried by the upper endsof said levers. The shaft 21 drives an alinedshaft 21b.

Through a suitable chain 28 or the like, the shaft 212) drives anoverlying shaft 29 from which the conveyor elements 5 in the hopper aredriven through suitable pairs of bevel gears 30, engag-, ing the lowerends of said elements. The main conveyor 4 is also driven from the shaft211) through a suitable train of gears 31, 32 and 33 arrangedin the gearcasing 14. It will, of course, be understood that the conveyor elements4 and 5 are driven in a proper direction to advance the material fromthe hopper into the chamber 1' and through said chamber toward theoutlet 3.

Drive mechanism for cutter head As is best seen in Figure 3, the pinion18 on the motor shaft meshes not only with the gear 19 but also with agear 34 fastened upon a horizontal shaft 35, and from the latter asuitable variable speed drive is established to an overlying shaft 36.The variable speed connection similarly to that hereinbefore described,comprises two-part coned pulleys 37 engaged by a driven belt 38 andadjustable to vary the drive ratio by a pair of levers 39 and a shaft40. Said shaft carries an actuating hand wheel 41 and has right and lefthand threaded portions engaging suitable feed nuts 42 respectivelypivoted upon the upper ends of said levers. The shaft 36 drives analined shaft 421), and a suitable train of gears 43, 44 and 45, in thegear casing 14 establishes a drive from the shaft 42b to the cutter head6. The latter may be driven either in the same direction as the mainconveyor element 4 or reverse- 1y thereto, the essential being that thesaid conveyor must by its rotation advance the material in the chamber 1toward said head.

Cutter head Considering the cutter head 6 now more in detail, it will benoted (see Figure 1) that a gradually tapered portion of said headincluding the annular flange '7, projects into and is journaled in acorrespondingly flared endportion of the chamber 1 and that said head isheld in its position of use by an annular plate 46 boltedto the wall 15as indicated at '47, behind which plate is engaged an annular flange 48formed upon the a neck formed in said angle.

mid-portion of the head 6. Obstruction of the chamber 1 by said headcompels the material advanced through said chamber to discharge by wayof the outlet 3. Both the inner and outer faces of the flange 7 aretapered, thus producing substantially a knife-edge eifect that minimizesthe resistance offered by the flange 7 to the material advancing intothe chamber 49 formed Within said flange. The discharge apertures 8 ofsaid flange are preferably circular, but may have any desired form andthe outlet 3, through which portions of material are extrudedpreliminary to severing the same, may also have various forms.

It is preferable however, to outwardly flare said outlet so as to reducethe thickness of the edge in. contact with the dough and thus minimizeadhesion of the dough to such edge also by so flaring said outlet at itsedge 3a which acts to shear the extruded material is adapted to exercisesubstantially a knife effect. As shown in Figure 13, the outlet 3 is ofsubstantially a rectangular shape. For the purpose of handling dough,however, it is preferable to give the said shearing edge a substantiallyV-form as indicated at 31) in Figure 14, so that pressure of theextruded material into the angle of said edge will accomplish severingby progressive reduction of severing in this manner has the advantage ofsealing a skin over the severed mass of dough or the like, (known as therounding operation) and eliminates necessity of a subsequent operationfor this purpose. In Figure 7-there is seen an extruded portion ofdough, or the like, about to be engaged with the shearing edge 3 (or 3a)As appears in Figure 8 the shearing off of saidportion has beenpartially accomplished and extrusion. of another portion is commencing.In Figure 9 the first extruded portion has been fully severed and theextrusion of the succeeding portion has still further progressed. Itwill be noted that the circumferential extent of the opening 3 issufficiently greater than that of the apertures 8 to afford an intervalfor adequate extrusion of a portion of the material through an aperture8 before said portion engages the shearing edge 3a or 3b.

Belt conveyor drive mechanism The conveyor belt 9 extends transverselyof the machine beneath the outlet 3 of the chamber 1, as best seen inFigrue 1, being mounted upon a pair of pulleys, 50 and 51, journaledpreferably upon the shafts 21b and 42b, independently of the actuationof said shafts.

With each of said pulleys is integrated or otherwise rigidly connected adrive gear 52, and a gear 53 is permanently meshed with the lef l1 handgear 52, (see Figure 6). An arm 5": is pivoted upon the shaft 35b and adrive from said shaft is established through a chain 55 (in suitablesprockets) to a gear 56 journaled upon the upper end of said arm. Saidarm is adjustable from the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 tothat indicated in dash lines. In the former position the gear 56 mesheswith the right hand gear 52 driving the belt 9 in the direction of thearrow in Figure 6. said arm the gear 56 meshes with the gear 53 wherebythe belt 9 is driven reversely to said arrow. The belt 10 is mountedupon suitable pulleys 58 and extends at one end beneath the belt 9 toreceive the loaves or other portions from the latter. Suitable provisionis made for driving the belt 10, as for example, by a gear 59 on one ofthe pulleys58 meshing with the gear 56. P

In the dash-line position of 1 96 5 0 .The belt may be installed ateither end of the belt 9 according to the direction in which latter isto be driven.

Above the advancing end of the belt 9 is mounted a flour container 60having a perforated lower portion, and an agitator 61 mounted in saidcontainer (see Figure 5) is adapted to be driven through a gear 62 fromthe adjacent gear 52. Rotation of said agitator in said containereffects a continuous sprinkling of flour upon the belt 9 in advance ofdelivery of the dough portions to said belt, whereby any sticking ofsaid portions to said belt is avoided. Delivery of such flour from thebelt 9 to the belt 10 serves also to pr vent sticking of the dough tothe latter.

Dough feed chamber the In order to overcome any tendency of the dough inthe chamber 1 to merely turn with the conveyor 4 instead of feedingforward, it is desirable to fashion said chamber interiorly to restrainany such rotation. This is accomplished, as shown in Figure 3, byforming longitudinal channels 63 in the inner face of said chamber. Theengagement of the dough in said channels thus sufficiently resistsrotation to insure a forward feeding movement of the dough responsive torotation of the member 4.

M odifications Describing now the modification shown in Figure 10, la isa feed chamber such as already described, and 3 an outlet therefrom forthe dough, or the like. Exteriorly adjacent to said outlet is rotatablymounted a cutter head 67 peripherally formed with a plurality of pockets68 which successively register with the outlet 3 through rotation ofsaid head. The latter is driven in the direction of the arrow in Figure10 by a chain 69 or the like. The weight of the portions of dough in thepockets 68 will ordinarily cause said portions to drop from said pocketsas the latter approach their downwardly opening positions. However, ispreferred to dispose below the head 67 an ejector 69o presenting abeveled edge in close proximity to the head so as to dislodge the lumpsof dough from said pockets, if necessary. To minimize the possibility ofthe dough adhering to the walls of the pockets 68, it is preferred toarrange a flour sprinkler 6973 (similar to that shown in Figure 5) abovethe head 67 and to continuously drive a suitable agitator 63c withinsaid sprinkler by a chain 69d or the like.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, a cutter blade 70is again mounted exteriorly of the feed chamber lb and revolves acrossthe outlet 3" through which the dough is extruded. Said blade is mountedupon a stub shaft 72 and is adapted to be continuously driven through asuitable gearing 74. If the severed portions tend to adhere to the blade70, they will be released from said blade by encountering the arm 74awhich projects upwardly adjacent to said blade.

In the modification illustrated in Figures and 16, a hollow cutter head75 formed with circumferentially spaced openings 76 is rotatablewithin adough feed chamber 77- toperiodically sever portions of dough extrudedthrough an outlet 78 in the bottom of said chamber. This constructiondiifers from that first described only in that it provides a lessernumber of. discharge openings in the cutter head, consequentlyincreasing the circumferential spacing of said openings, so that theextrusion, and'severing of one portion is completely accomplished beforethe next portion begins to extrude.

Operation In the operation of the described machine, dough or othercohesive material is continuously fed from the hopper 2 by the conveyorelements 5 into the chamber 1, and is continuously advanced through saidchamberby the element 4 to the cutter head 6. As eachaperture S of saidhead registers with the outlet 3 a portion of the dough is firstextruded through said aperture and outlet, and is finally severed fromthe original mass by the shearing co-action of the edges of saidaperture and outlet. The operator, by increasing the speed of theconveyors 4i and 5, relative to that of the cutter head is able toincrease the size of the severed portions and by increasing the speed ofthe conveyor elements 4 and 5 and also of the cutter head, the rate ofdelivery of the severed portions may be increased without affectingtheir size. By thus properly relatively proportioning the rate ofadvance of the material by said conveyor elements to the rate ofactuation of the cutter head it is feasible to accurately control boththe size of the delivered portions of material and the rate of theirdelivery.

It will appear from the foregoing description 7 and explanation of themachine, that when the same is operating, the extrusion of dough iscontinuous, each cutting off of an extruded portion being preceded tosome extent by the extrusion of another portion. The arrangement is suchthat the total effective area of apertures through which extrusion takesplace is at all times substantially uniform, so as to give substantialuniformity to the resistance or back pressure against the forward flowof dough. By thus avoiding variations in the pressure under which thedough is advanced, there is attained a quite definite uniformity in thevolume of each severed portion.

It will be readily understood that the feed elements 5 in the hopper maybe omitted if the described machine is used for handling material ofsufliciently fluid character to discharge by gravity from the hopperinto the feed chamber 1. It will also be evident that other types offeed members than the elements 4 and 5 might be used both in the hopperand in the feed chamber. It is also to be understood that the inventionin its broader aspects is not limited to the disclosed types of doughcutters. The speedregulable drives from the shaft to the shaft 21, andfrom the shaft to the shaft 36 might also be given various forms otherthan that shown. It is to be understood therefore, that the invention issubmitted as embracing such changes as are above discussed/and all othermodifications such as properly come within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an inlet and an outlet, of means for advancing cohesivematerial through said chamber to be extruded therethrough, meansassociated with said outlet for periodically severing the extrudedmaterial, means for regulating the rate of advance of the materialthrough said chamber, and the rate of periodic severing eachindependently of the other.

an outlet for cohesive material, of means for advancing such materialthrough said chamber toward said outlet to be extruded therethrough, acutter head rotatable in said chamber and interposed between itsinterior and its outlet, said cutter head being formed with an inlet inits end and an outlet opening registrable with said outlet in thechamber to permit extrusion of material, and means for rotatablyactuating said cutter head.

3. In a-device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an inlet and an outlet for cohesive material, of meansfor advancing such material through said chamber toward said outlet tobe extruded through said outlet, a tubular cylindrical cutter headrotatable in said chamber having an open end appurtenant said chamber toadmit material thereinto and formed with a circumferential series ofopenings registrable successively with said outlet through rotation ofsaid head, and means for rotatively actuating said head.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an inlet and an outlet for cohesive material, of meansfor advancing such material through said chamber toward said outlet, acutter head rotatable in said chamber and interposed between theinterior thereof and the outlet, said cutter head having an inletopening in one end thereof for receiving the advancing material, andformed with an outlet opening through the wail of said chamberregistrable with said outlet for the extrusion of material, and meansfor rotatively actuating said cutter head.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having anopening for the discharge of cohesive material formedwith a V-shaped shearing edge receding from the center or" said opening,of a cutter head r0- tatable in said chamber across said opening.

toward said shearing edge, and means for rotatively actuating saidcutter head.

6. In a device ofthe character described, the combination with a chamberhaving an outlet, of means for delivering cohesive material to'saidoutlet, to be extruded therethrough, means associated-with said outletfor periodically severing the extruded material, and means forregulating the rate of delivery of the material to said outlet and therate of periodic severance each independently of the other.

'7. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an inlet and an outlet, of a member rotatable in saidchamber for feeding cohesive material through said chamber toward saidoutlet, to be extruded therethrough, a coaxial rotative cutter memberwithin said chamber for periodically severing the ex truded material,means for driving said feed member, means for driving said cuttermember, and means for independently regulating the driven speed of saidfeed member and cutter member. i

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with anelongated feed chamber for cohesive material having a tapering flare andan outlet at one end, of means within said chamber for feeding materialtoward said end, a head rotative in and conforming to said flaredportion of said chamber, drive means for said head, and

a cutter member carried by said head associated with said outlet forperiodically severing material extruded through said outlet. V

9. In a device of the character described,the

ing material extruded therethrough, and means 7 for driving said headand feed member at different speeds.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an inlet and an outlet, of a member rotatable in saidchamber for feeding cohesive material toward said outlet, to be extrudedtherethrough, a cutter member rotative coaxially with said feed memberfor periodically severing the extruded material, and means for drivingsaid feed member and cutter member at different speeds. V

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an inlet and an outlet for cohesive material, of a memberrotatable in said chamber for feeding material toward said outlet, to beextruded therethrough, a cutter member rotatable coaxially with saidfeed member for periodically severing the extruded material, drive meansfor the cutter member, and means extending through the cutter member fordriving said feed member independently of the cutter member.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an outlet for the discharge of cohesive material, ofmembers independently rotatable insaid chamber for advancing material tosaid outlet and for regulating its discharge through said outlet.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with achamber having an outlet, of a rotative member in said chamber foradvancing material to said outlet, a rotative member associated withsaid outlet for regulating the discharge therethrough, independentmechanisms for driving the two said rotative members, and meansassociated with said mechanisms for independently regulating the speedof actuation of said members.

14. In a severing device for cohesive material, a body portion having anexposed outlet opening, means for advancing such material toward andforcing it through said opening, and means for governing the extrusionof the material and for dividing the same into predetermined lengths,including a gate member arranged to control the outlet of the body andhaving an inlet communicating with the body member to receive materialforced therethrough, said gate member also having a plurality ofopenings therein and being so movable relatively to the outlet openingas to successively register said openings in the gate member with theoutlet openings, and to partially register one before completely closingthe one previous, thereby maintaining substantially constant theeffective outlet represented by the total area of such registration.

15. In a dividing device for cohesive material, a body portion having anexposed outlet opening,

means for advancing cohesive material toward body portion and gatemember being periodically registrable upon movement of one relatively toanother but so disposed that upon movement of the gate one opens asanother closes, whereby the total area of registration remainssubstantially constant to permit constant pressure relief through theexposed outlet.

16. In apparatus for handling cohesive material, conveying meanscomprising a plurality of screw conveyors adapted to successivelyadvance and deliver the material one to another and each substantiallyrectilinear but angularly disposed relatively to the succeedingconveyor, the adjoining ends of said conveyors being arranged out of acommon plane, whereby one may be projected across and beyond another.

17. In apparatus for handling cohesive material, conveying meanscomprising a plurality of elongated passageways angularly disposed andhaving communicating ends, and screw conveyors arranged in saidpassageways for successively advancing cohesive material therethrough inangular directions, the adjoining ends of said screw conveyors beingarranged out of a common plane and one being projected across and beyondanother, and means for driving at least one of said conveyors from suchprojecting end.

18. In a dividing device for cohesive material, a body portion having anexposed outlet opening, means for advancing cohesive material toward andforcing it through the outlet opening, and means for governing theextrusion of the material and for dividing the same into predeterminedlengths, including a movable gate member having an inlet opening thereinin constant communication with said body portion to re ceive materialforced through the latter, and another portion movable to valve saidoutlet opening and having a plurality of valve openings therein arrangedcloser together than thewidth of the outlet opening, whereby uponmovement of the gate member one of said valve openings begins toregister with the outlet opening before another closes.

19. In a dividing device for cohesive material and the like, a bodyportion having an exposed outlet opening therein, means for advancingthe material toward and forcing it through the outlet opening, and meansfor governing the extrusion of the material and for dividing the sameinto predetermined lengths, including a rotatable gate member having aninlet opening in an end thereof and in constant communication with saidbody portion to receive material forced through the latter, and aplurality of circumferentially spaced valve openings arranged to beperiodically registrable with the outlet opening upon rotation of thegate member, and so disposed that one opens as another closes, tomaintain the exposure of the outlet and prevent the accumulation ofundesired pressure within the body member.

20. In a machine for handling dough and like materials, a deliveryportion for discharging separated charges of material, an endless beltconveyor arranged beneath and adapted to receive such separated charges,reversible driving means for said conveyor including gearing andsprocket means at each end of said conveyor, and addi tional conveyingmeans including a portion connectable to the gearing at either end ofsaid first mentioned conveyor. I

RAYMOND R. PEELE.

